Hotline: Voice of the Naturalist
Date: 3/28/2017
Coverage: MD/DC/VA/DE/WV panhandle
Reports, comments, questions: voice@anshome.org
Compiler: Joe Coleman
Sponsor: Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic
States (independent of NAS)
Transcriber: Steve Cordle
Please consider joining ANS, especially if you are a regular user of
the Voice (Individual $50; Family $65; Nature Steward $100; Audubon
Advocate $200). The membership number is 301-652-9188, option 12; the
address is 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; and the web
site is http://www.AudubonNaturalist.org.
This is the Voice of the Naturalist, a service of the Audubon
Naturalist Society. This report covers the week starting Wednesday,
March 22 and was completed on Tuesday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m.
=09
Information on noteworthy birds during this week is presented below in
taxonomic order, as set forth in the American Ornithologists' Union
Checklist for North and Middle American birds as revised through the
57th supplement (July 2016).
TOP BIRDS THIS WEEK were PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* in DE, GREEN-WINGED TEAL
(EURASIAN) in MD, PRAIRIE FALCON* in VA, and WESTERN TANAGER in VA.
=20
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST included waterfowl, EARED GREBE, EASTERN
WHIP-POOR- WILL, RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, KING RAIL, SORA, SANDHILL CRANE,
shorebirds, RAZORBILL, BLACK-HEADED GULL, LITTLE GULL, ICELAND GULL,
GREAT CORMORANT, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, AMERICAN BITTERN, GREEN
HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SNOW BUNTING, warblers,
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, PAINTED BUNTING, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, and
RUSTY BLACKBIRD.
=09
TOP BIRDS
The PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* which has been seen near Prime Hook NWR, Sussex
Co, DE, was last reported on March 23; at that time it was seen along
Wells Rd just past the intersection with Buttonwood Rd.
The continuing GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) at West Meadow Park, Cecil
Co, MD was most recently seen March 27. There was also one seen March
25 at the Ashton Tract, Augustine Wildlife Area, DE.
A PRAIRIE FALCON* was found and photographed on March 25 at the
decommissioned Alexandria Power Plant in Alexandria, VA; it was seen
again on the 26th and 27. It is being seen most frequently perched in
various locations on the south side of the power plant. Because the
bird periodically flies out over the Potomac, it can also be
considered a DC sighting.
The WESTERN TANAGER at Settler's Mill, James City Co, VA was seen
again on March 26.
OTHER BIRDS OF INTEREST
The CACKLING GOOSE at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Queen
Anne's Co, MD was seen again on March 24 and 26.
A EURASIAN WIGEON was at Broadkill Marsh, Prime Hook NWR, Sussex Co,
DE also on March 23. A EURASIAN WIGEON was seem March 25 at Mulberry
Landing, Assawoman WMA, Sussex Co, DE. A LONG-TAILED DUCK continued at
Lapidum, Harford Co, MD, through March 22. Two COMMON EIDERS were
seen from the Lewes-Cape May ferry in Sussex Co, DE waters on 22.
The RED-NECKED GREBE at Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore, MD was seen
as recently as March 26. The EARED GREBE at Buckroe Beach, Hampton Co,
VA, was most recently seen on March 26. =20
An early EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL was heard at a residence in Hanover
Co, VA early on the morning of March 28.
The RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD continued to be seen during the week at
Wildewood Neighborhood Walk, St. Mary's Co MD.
A KING RAIL was calling from the marsh along the wildlife drive where
the road is blocked at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA on
March 25. A SORA was seen March 25 on the edge of a retention pond
along Weaneck Haul Rd, Charles City, Charles City Co, VA.
Six SANDHILL CRANES flew over Baker Park, Frederick, Frederick Co, MD
on March 25. Two were seen again on March 27 along Peat Moss Rd,
Garrett Co, MD in a corn field.
Shorebird numbers continued to increase this past week. Three PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were seen March 25 at the Veterans Memorial at Chesapeake
Beach, Calvert Co, MD. PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen in two different
locations in Garrett Co, MD on March 25; 6 were at Herrington Manor SP
and 13 were reported from Peat Moss Rd. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were
displaying at Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax Co, VA on March 25.
A RAZORBILL continued at Ft. Monroe, Hampton Co, VA with a report from
March 26.=20
A BLACK-HEADED GULL found March 23 in the pond next to the Walmart,
Colonial heights, VA, was seen again March 26. Another was seen
throughout the week at Back River, Baltimore Co, MD. A LITTLE GULL was
seen March 25 from Lapidum, Harford Co, MD. An ICELAND GULL was seen
March 25 from the Lewes-Cape May Ferry in DE waters.
Six GREAT CORMORANTS were seen March 25 off of Kent Point, Queen
Anne's Co, MD.
The AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN at the pier at the Essex Wastewater
Treatment Plant, Baltimore, MD, was seen again on March 24 from Cox
Point Park.
AN AMERICAN BITTERN was seen March 25 at the Kenilworth Aquatic
Gardens, NE DC. Another AMERICAN BITTERN was seen the same day in the
cell north & west of the parking lot at the Julie Metz Wetlands Bank,
in Woodbridge, Prince Wm Co, VA.
The GREEN HERON that over-wintered at Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria,
VA, was last reported on March 21.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at a variety of locations
including two at the Jones Fall Trail at Remington, Baltimore Co, MD,
throughout the week.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen March 27 as it flew over a yard near
Shepherdstown, Jefferson Co, WV.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen and photographed on March 27 at 20627 Old
=46orge Rd, Washington Co, MD. The continuing NORTHERN SHRIKE, at Sully
Woodlands, Fairfax Co VA was seen as recently as March 26.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen and photographed March 25 at Chincoteague
NWR, Accomack Co, VA. Four SNOW BUNTINGS were seen March 23 at Craney
Island Disposal Area, Portsmouth, VA. Two SNOW BUNTINGS were seen
March 25 at Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA.
Early migrating warblers included a BLACK-THROATED GREEN heard at Lake
Matoaka, Williamsburg, VA on March 26.
The CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Big Water Farm (private), Queen Anne's
Co MD, was seen as recently as March 26. Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen
March 26 at the Agricultural History Farm Park, Montgomery Co, MD. A
VESPER SPARROW was seen March 26 at Swoope, VA along Trimbles Mill Rd.
Two VESPER SPARROWS were seen along Berry's Ferry Road (CR 628) March
27; they were at the edge of a winter wheat field along the south
border of Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke Co, VA.
A male PAINTED BUNTING continues to be seen and photographed at a
private residence in Berlin, Worcester Co, MD, with the most recent
sighting on March 27.
The YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Hopkins Farm Pond, Harford Co, MD was
last seen on March 22. =20
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen throughout the area during the week
including a small flock at the Occoquan Bay NWR, Prince William Co, VA
on March 25.=20
This report was based on reports on the DE, MD, VA, and WV list
servers via the ABA Internet links, and on eBird records.
The Audubon Sanctuary Shop (301-652-3606, http://anshome.org/shop) is
an excellent source for guidebooks and many other nature-related
titles.
To report bird sightings, e-mail your report to voice@anshome.org.
Please post reports before midnight Monday, identify the county as
well as the state, and include your name and a Tuesday morning
contact, either e-mail or phone.
Thank you for your interest, and enjoy the birds.
*Of interest to the applicable records committee
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